Road sanding machine



Dec. 21, 1954 2,697,609

s. J. CHASE ETAL ROAD SANDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 12, 1948 9 Shee ts-Sheet 1 INVENTORS S/QNEYI CHASE BYE/144457 .Z'OKE/LLY PM F WN ATToEA/E vs Dec. 21, 1954 CHASE ETAL ROAD SANDING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 12, 1948 INVENTORJ J/DNEYI CHASE y EMMET JIOKE/LLY Dec. 21, 1954 s CHASE EI'AL ROAD SANDING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 12, 1948 mg 3 m d W mwl A mm? /M 1 V W J. 5:; Q Q. N mm Dec. 21, 1954 s. .1. CHASE ETAL 2,697,609

ROAD SANDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 12, 1948 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 JNVENTORS SIDNEY .Z CHASE BYEMMET [OPE/LL) M WW A-rroRNE Y5 Dec. 21, 1954 Filed Aug. 12, 1948 S J. CHASE ETA!- ROAD SANDING MACHINE 9 Shee'ts-Sheet 5 INVENTORS SI NEY IC/Mss BY fMMET? IOPE/LLY M/Ww ATTORNEYJ Dec. 21, 1954 5, J, CHASE ETAL ROAD SANDING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Aug. 12, 1948 v E mmm WW T. 2 M0 n m h D Qmf Y B m u m S. J. CHASE ET AL ROAD SANDING MACHINE Dec. 21, 1954 Filed Aug. 12, 1948 me I65 FIG. 14

9 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTORS 5/0NEY [CH/15E BY 5144457" [OPE/LL) W U WW ATTOENEYJ Dec. 21, 1954 5. J. CHASE ETA!- ROAD SANDING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Aug. 12, 1948 EY mm 3 m6 Min MA 0 E mwf E w.

Dec. 21, 1954 5. J. CHASE EI'AL ROAD SANDING museum:

9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Aug. 12, 1948 ATTQRNEY" United States Patent ROAD SANDING MACHINE Sidney J. Chase and Emmet J. OReilly, St. Paul, Minn., assignors to C & F Machine Works, St. Paul, Minn., a partnership Application August 12, 1948, Serial No. 43,848

6 Claims. (Cl. 275-8) streets, and for sanding slippery and sleet-covered surfaces to increase traction, and whereby the operation of distributing the material over such surfaces may be expeditiously and economically accomplished.

Crushed rock, gravel, coarse sand, and other aggregates, are now commonly used in the construction of roads and highways together with suitable binders. The present machine is particularly useful for top dressing a pavement or other road surface requiring the application of a layer or coating of gravel or other aggregate to complete the surface of the paving. To produce the best result, it is of utmost importance that the material be uniformly distributed over the surface of the highway, and at a predetermined depth which is readily controllable from the operators seat or station.

Briefly, the present apparatus comprises rotary spreaders mounted forwardly of the supporting truck or vehicle and arranged to receive a suitable aggregate or granular material from a conveyor having its rear end in communication with a cross conveyor onto which the material is delivered from a supply container or box having means for conveniently controlling the delivery of material onto the cross conveyor, and an object of the invention resides in the novel manner in which the gravel supply box is constructed and mounted, and in the arrangement of the various operating parts of the entire apparatus such as the rotary spreader, the conveyors, the means for delivering the material onto the cross conveyor, and the control means, whereby the operation of the various elements may be accurately and independently controlled from the drivers seat at all times.

A further object is to provide an apparatus of the class described comprising hydraulic means for operating the various devices thereof such as the spreader and conveyors, and whereby said devices may be independently controlled to accurately control the delivery of material onto the road surface.

A further object resides in the novel means provided for delivering the material onto the cross conveyor in a controlled stream or flow and whereby the amount of aggregate delivered to the rotary spreader may be accurately controlled at all times in accordance with the quantity of material required for each particular job.

A further and more specific object resides in the unique construction and arrangement of the auxiliary container or box for supporting the granular material, which is in the form of an independent container or box adapted to be fitted into the usual dump box of a conventional dump truck, said auxiliary box being mounted for tilting movement within the dump box of the truck about a transverse axis located adjacent to the forward end of the truck dump body or box, and whereby the rear end portion of the auxiliary box or container may be tilted upwardly in a forward direction to discharge its contents onto the cross conveyor, the tilting mechanism of said auxiliary box or container being so constructed that when said box is in its normal horizontal position within the truck body, the truck body may be used in a conventional manner by rearwardly tilting the truck body and the auxiliary box supported therein, to thereby dump the contents of the auxiliary box from the rear end of the apparatus, as when 2,697,609 Patented Dec. 21, 1 954 dumping a load from a conventional truck dump body, and whereby the apparatus may be operated to unload the material from the rear of the apparatus directly onto the ground or pavement, or the auxiliary box may be operated independently of the truck body to deliver the material onto the cross conveyor for delivery to the rotary spreader at the front of the apparatus.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of such an apparatus comprising a plurality of hydraulically operated pumps conveniently located upon the apparatus and adapted to receive their supplies of liquid from a common reservoir, said pumps being power driven from an independent motor or engine located on the truck body and whereby the operation of the various elements of the apparatus, even under extreme conditions will have no efiect upon the usual truck engine, as said engine functions to propel the apparatus only, and does not furnish power for the various operating devices of the apparatus.

Other objects of the invention reside in the hydraulic means provided for tilting the auxiliary box in a forward direction independently of the usual mechanism employed for tilting the truck body in a rearward direction; in the arrangement of the movable gates or flaps provided at the rear of the transverse conveyor for preventing sand from backing up under the discharge end of the auxiliary box or body; in the provision of a road sanding machine wherein all of the various operating devices are hydraulically driven by a plurality of independent pumps driven from a common source of power; in the construction of the side walls of the cross conveyor whereby leakage of sand therefrom when receiving it from the auxiliary box is completely eliminated; in the provision of an apparatus of this particular type which is so constructed that all of the sand or material contained in the auxiliary box may be unloaded therefrom in controlled amounts by tilting movement of said auxiliary box, and without requiring any manual labor such as hand shoveling portions of the sand from the auxiliary box onto the cross conveyor; and in the provision of an abrasive-spreading mechanism which may readily be applied to a conventional power operated dump truck to thereby convert such a truck into a practical and efiicient road sanding machine, but at the same time making it possible to utilize the apparatus as a conventional dump truck whenever desired, and without requiring expensive alterations to be made when thus shifting the use of the apparatus from conventional dump hauling to road sanding, and vice versa.

These and other objects of the invention and the means for their attainment will be more apparent from the fol lowing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings there has been disclosed a structure designed to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the exact features shown, as various changes may be made within the scope of the claims which follow.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a dump truck showing the invention mounted thereon;

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1 showing the fluid pumps for driving the cross and side conveyors, and also the rotary spreader at the front end of the truck;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, showing the auxiliary truck body tilted to deliver sand to the cross conveyor;

Figure 4 is a detail plan view showing the connection between the cross conveyor and the side conveyor, and also showing the main oil reservoir and the anti-splash means provided therein;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view on the line 55 of Figure 1, showing the cross conveyor feeding sand onto the lower end of the side conveyor;

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figure 3, showing the drive for the cross conveyor;

Figure 7 is a front view of a truck equipped with the sand spreading apparatus herein disclosed, and parts thereof being broken away to more clearly illustrate the pivoted vane for controlling and directing the flow of sand to the spinner;

Figure 8 is a side view of Figure 7, illustrating the adjusting means for the sand control vane;

Figure 9 is a detail sectional view on the line 99 of Figure 4, showing the lower end of the sideconveyor;

Figure 10 is a detail sectional plan view showing the opening provided in the floor of the dump truck through which the sandis discharged onto the cross conveyor, and also showing the means for regulating said opening;

Figure 11 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to Figure 3, but showing the truck body used as a conventional dump truck; 7

Figure 12 is a detail sectional view on the line 1212 of Figure 1, showing the channel construction of the supporting frame of the side conveyor;

Figure 13, is a schematic drawing showing the operative connections between the various operating devices of the entire apparatus; and

Figure 14 is a detail sectional plan view on the line 1414 of Figure 1 showing the telescopic arrangement of the upper end of the supporting frame of the side conveyor.

Material spreading means In the selected embodiment of the invention herein disclosed there is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, a dump truck of more or less conventional design, comprising the usual chassis 2, including side beams 3 and 4, front and rear wheels 5 and 6, respectively, engine hood 7, drivers cab 8, and the usual dump body 9, shown pivoted at 11 to the chassis whereby it may be tilted rearwardly, as illustrated in Figure 11.

One of the important features of the present invention resides in the provision of means whereby a conventional dump truck, such as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, may readily be converted into a road sanding machine or apparatus for uniformly distributing abrasives such as sand, gravel, and various other aggregates over the surfaces of highways or streets as a top dressing for such surfaces, or as an anti-slipping medium to provide better traction for the wheels of vehicles on slippery streets or highways, or in the operation of applying a finishing coat of a suitable material or aggregate to the surfaces of streets or highways in the operation of rcpaving or resurfacing the surfaces thereof.

In the construction of highways, it is essential that the material or aggregate be uniformly applied to the surface thereof and over as wide an area as possible in order that the job may be completed in the least possible time.

To thus convert a conventional truck into a road sanding machine, a rotary distributor or spreader, generally designated by the numeral 12, is mounted forwardly of the truck for rotation about a vertical axis, as may be noted by reference to Figures 1 and 7. The distributor or spreader 12 is secured to the lower end of an upright shaft 13 mounted in suitable'bearings shown provided within a tubular member 14 disposed within a cylindrical housing 15 provided at the lower end' of a chute 16 having its upper end in communication with a horizontal conveyor section 17 which conducts the material to the spreader 12.

To support the housing 15 upon the front end. of the truck, a suitable cross member 18 is suitably secured to the body of the truck and extends from side to side thereof, as illustrated in Figure 7. The housing 15 may be bolted to the cross member 18, as shown at 19 in Figure 1. A supporting frame, generally designated by the numeral 21, is secured to one end of the cross member 18 and extends upwardly therefrom and is provided at its upper end with a horizontal member 22 providing a support for a housing 23 located at the adjacent end of the conveyor 17, as will be clearly understood by reference to Figure 1. Suitable braces 24 extend rearwardly from the ends of the cross member 18 to the frame of the truck to reinforce the member 18.

The chute 16 has its lower end terminating adjacent to the upper surface of the spreader 12, directly. thereover, whereby sand or other aggregates delivered to the chute is directed onto the upper surface of the spreader whereby the vanes 25 of the spreader engage the sand or gravel and outwardly spread it in a horizontal direction over the surface of the highway. To vary the spreading of the material over the surface of the highway, a control element 26 is mounted within the chute 16 and has its upper end pivotally supported on a pivot pin 27 having its ends secured respectively to the bottom and upper walls of the chute 16, as best shown in Figures 7 and 8.

Means are provided for actuating the control member 26 and is shown comprising a lever 28 pivoted at 29 to a fixed support and having one end of a link 31 pivoted thereto. The opposite end of the link 31 is operatively lcorliinggted to the control member 26 through a secondary A connecting link 33 connects the arm 28 to the intermediate portion of a control lever 34, shown pivoted at 35 to the usual instrument board 36 of the truck. A suitable quadrant 37 is shown secured to the usual instrument board of the drivers cab whereby the control lever 34 may be secured in adjusted position to support the control member 26 in proper position with respect to the spreader 12 to obtain the most desired results.

A suitable deflector 38 is secured to the cross member 18, and extends downwardly and rearwardly therefrom, as shown in Figures 1, 7 and 8, to prevent the material discharging from the spreader to be thrown against the front axle and wheels of the truck.

A similar deflector 39 is shown adjustably mounted on the outside wall of the chute 16 adjacent to the spreader 12, and is retained in adjusted position by a slotted bar 41 having a single nut and bolt 42 for securing the deflector 39 in adjusted position. The deflector 39 controls the lateral spreading of the material, and does not require the frequent adjustment which may be necessary with the control member 26.

The spreader 12 is driven by a hydraulic motor, generally designated by the numeral 71, which is operatively connected to the upper end of the spreader shaft, as best illustrated in Figure 7. For convenience, the motor 71 may be mounted upon a bearing sleeve 72 supporting the upper end of the shaft 13.

A conduit 73 connects one side of the motor 71 to the high pressure side of a suitable pump 74, mounted upon the top wall or cover 75 of a suitable supply tank or reservoir, designated by the numeral 76. A conduit 77 has one end. connected to the discharge side of the motor 71 and has its opposite end in communication with the reservoir 76, whereby the oil or fluid pumped from the reservoir through the motor 71 is returned to the reservoir through the conduit 77.

The pumpv 74 is driven from a suitable source of power such as an auxiliary internal combustion engine 78, shown mounted upon the reservoir 76. A flexible coupling 79 operatively connects the pump 74 to the shaft 81 of the auxiliary engine 78.

Material conveying menus The means provided for delivering material to the spreader 12 is shown comprising a side conveyor, generally designated by the numeral 43, composed of the upper horizontal conveyor section 17 and an inclined section 4.4. The conveyor sections 1.7 and 44 are composed of an endless flexible belt 46 having running connections with suitable rollers 47, 48, 49 and 51. The upper forward roller 47 is secured to a shaft 52 mounted in suitable bearings provided in the side walls of the conveyor section 17. One end of the shaft 52 extends laterally from the conveyor and has a chain drive 53 operttively connecting it to a fluid-operated motor 54, shown supported on a bracket 55 and having fluid conducting cogdlits 56 and 57 connected thereto. See Figures 2 an The rear end of conduit 56 is connected to the pressure side of a hydraulic pump 58, shown mounted on the cover or top wall of the supply tank or reservoir 76, and operatively connected to the pump 74 by a flexible coupling 61, similar to the coupling 79 connecting the pump 74 to the auxiliary engine shaft 81. The engine 78 is operated entirely independently of the truck engine, indicated at 63 in Figure 13.

The pump 58 has a suction conduit 64 extending through an opening in the top wall 75 of the reservoir, into the oil or liquid contained therein, as will be understood by reference to Figures 4 and 13. The pump 74 has a suction conduit 64, similar to the one utilized by pump 58. Thus, when the auxiliary engine 78 is operated to circulate fluid through the conduit 56, such oil or fluid will circulate through the fluid motor 54 which in turn will operate and drive the side conveyor 43 through the chain drive 53.

The material to be spread over the surface of the highway is delivered to the side conveyor 43 from a cross conveyor, generally designated by the numeral 65. The cross conveyor is shown comprising an endless belt 66 supported on a power driven roller 67 and an idler roller 68 shown provided with a suitable belt tensioning device 69.

The rollers 67 and 68 are secured to shafts 82 and 83, respectively, mounted in suitable bearings provided in the spaced side walls 84 and 85 which cooperate with the upper run of the belt 66 to provide an elongated hopper 80 into which the material is delivered from a suitable tiltable box or body 86, subsequently to be described. Flexible sealing elements 87 are provided along the edges of the upper belt run to prevent leakage of the material from the cross conveyor as it is conveyed to the side conveyor 43, when the apparatus is in operation. The hopper 80 is provided at one end with an inclined wall 88 which directs the material inwardly onto the belt 66, as best indicated in Figure 5.

The cross conveyor 65 is driven from a fluid operated motor 89 through a suitable speed reducing mechanism, generally designated by the numeral 91. The speed reducing mechanism is shown comprising spaced chains 92 and 93, chain 92 having a running connection with a drive sprocket 94 secured to the shaft 95 of the fluid motor 89 and a sprocket 96 shown secured to a shaft 97 rotatably mounted in suitable bearings, indicated at 98 and 99 in Figure 4. The chain 93 has running connections with a sprocket 101 secured to the sprocket 96 and a sprocket 102 secured to the shaft 82 of the cross conveyor 65.

The speed reducing mechanism above described is clearly illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, and the sprockets are so proportioned as to materially reduce the speed of the driven conveyor shaft 82 relative to the normal speed of the shaft 95 of the fluid motor 89.

The means for driving the fluid operated motor 89 is shown comprising a suitable fluid pump 103 mounted on the top wall or cover 75 of the reservoir 76 in alignment with the pumps 58 and 74, as best illustrated in Figure 4. The pump 89 is driven from the pump 58 through a flexible coupling 104. A conduit 105 connects the high pressure side of the motor 89 with the intake of the pump 103, and a conduit 106 establishes communication between the discharge side of the motor 89 and the interior of the reservoir 76, whereby the fluid circulated through the hydraulic motor 89 is returned to the reservoir. The pump 103 is shown provided with a suction conduit 64, similar to the corresponding conduits 64 of the pumps 58 and 74.

Fluid reservoir Another feature of the invention resides in the unique construction of the reservoir 76 whereby turbulence of the fluid or liquid within the reservoir is reduced to a minimum. The means for thus reducing fluid turbulence is shown comprising a plurality of baffles 107 and 108 arranged in staggered relation as shown in Figure 4 and having their ends spaced from one another and from the adjacent upright walls of the reservoir, whereby the liquid may freely circulate around the ends of the bafiies and between them with the assurance turbulence of the liquid in the reservoir will be at a minimum even though the apparatus may sway more or less in a lateral direction when traveling over a highway. The bafiies 107 and 108 are arranged within the reservoir the length thereof.

The reservoir 76 and the pumps 58, 74, and 103, and also the auxiliary motor 78, may be assembled as a unit, as will be understood by reference to Figure 4. This greatly facilitates construction and provides a very compact pump and reservoir structure which may be thoroughly tested and operated as a unit prior to being mounted on the truck chassis, as will be understood.

The auxiliary engine 78 is connected to the pump shaft 81 through a suitable clutch indicated at 109 in Figures 4 and 13. A suitable clutch control, not shown, is located in the drivers cab whereby the driving connection between the auxiliary engine 78 and the pumps may be conveniently controlled. Suitable controls for the auxiliary engine 78 are also located within the drivers cab whereby the operation of the conveyors 43 and 65 and the spreader 12 may be conveniently controlled from the drivers seat, as will be understood.

Material supporting means Another important feature of the present invention resides in the means provided for delivering material into the elongated hopper of the cross conveyor 65, whereby the spreader may be provided with the proper supply of material required for the job at hand without requiring manual handling of the material delivered thereto.

As best illustrated in Figure 3, the material is delivered onto the cross conveyor 65 from the inner dump box 86 which is mounted for forward tilting movement whereby its entire contents may be gradually delivered onto the cross conveyor 65.

Another important feature of the invention resides in the mounting of the auxiliary dump box 86 which, it will be noted by reference to Figure 3, is supported entirely within the truck body 9 and, in effect, provides a movable liner therefor. The inner dump body 86 is shown mounted for pivotal movement about the axis of .a cross shaft 111 supported in suitable apertures provided in a plurality of longtudinally extending channel members 112 to which the bottom wall 113 of the dump body 86 is secured. The shaft is pivotally supported in a plurality of U-shaped bearing blocks or brackets 114, shown secured to the bottom wall 115 of the body 9 of the truck.

A drop gate 116 is pivoted to the front edge of the bottom wall 113 of the inner dump body 86 and normally depends from the bottom 113, as clearly illustrated in Figures 3 and 11, thereby to prevent leakage of the material over the upper edge of the wall. of the cross hopper 80, as will be understood by reference to Figure 3.

When the apparatus is to be utilized for spreading material over the surface of a highway, the rear end of the inner or auxiliary dump box 86 is closed by a suitable end gate 70, hinged at to the rear portions of the box walls and having a bolt for locking it in closed position. When the apparatus is to be used as a conventional dump truck, the locking bolt 100 is removed to permit free swinging movement of the end gate 70.

A suitable trap door or closure 117 is hinged at 118 to the top wall 119 of a small transversely disposed housing 121 and is adapted to be swung downwardly to substantially a horizontal position to close the top of the transversely disposed hopper 80, when the apparatus is to be used as a conventional truck for hauling sand or gravel and dumping it from the rear end of the truck body, as shown for example in Figure 11. The trap door 117 thus provides means for closing the gap between the front portion of the bottom wall 113 of the inner dump body 86 and the housing 121, shown in Figures 3 and 11.

When the apparatus is arranged to deliver material into the transverse hopper 80 of the cross conveyor, as shown in Figure 3, the trap door 117 is swung upwardly to the position shown in Figure 3, whereby material may discharge from the front end of the inner body 86 into the hopper 80 and onto the cross con veyor 65.

To control the delivery of the material onto the cross conveyor 65, a suitable slide, generally designated by the numeral 122, is mounted for horizontal sliding movement in suitable guides provided at the bottom of the housing 121, and is operated by rotation of a shaft 123 having pinions 124 secured thereto, the teeth of which engage in suitable apertures provided in the slide 122, whereby when the shaft 123 is relatively rotated in its bearings by manipulation of the crank 125, the slide is translated in its guides to control the effective area of the opening through which material is introduced into the hopper 80 of the cross conveyor 65. The trap door 117 may be retained in its open position by a suitable keeper 120, shown secured to the front wall of the main truck body 9, as shown in Figure 3.

Operating means for dump body The inner dump body 86 is mounted for pivotal movement in a forward direction, as herein before stated. whereby the contents thereof may readily be discharged from its front end into the hopper 80 to supply the spreader 12. The dump body 86 is tilted to a dumping position by hydraulically operated means comprising a pair of laterally spaced cylinders 126 having their lower ends pivotally secured to depending brackets 127 by suitable pivot pins 128. The brackets are shown secured to the bottom of the truck body 9 and depend therefrom as shown in Figure 3. Suitable braces, not shown, may be interposed between the lower ends of the brackets 127 and a cross member secured to the bottom of the main truck body 9 to resist relative rearward movement of the brackets 127, when the inner box 86 is tilted to a loaddumping position.

Plungers 129 are mounted for reciprocal movement within the cylinders 126 and have their forward ends pivotally connected to suitable brackets 131, shown secured to a transverse cross channel 132 secured to the bottom of the truck body 86, as best shown in Figure 3. Pivot pins 133 operatively connect the plungers 129 to the brackets 131. The front end 134 of the inner dump body 86 is spaced rearwardly from the front wall 130 of the truck body 9, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 11, thereby to prevent interference between the front end of the dump body 86 and the front wall 130, when the dump body 86 is tilted forwardly as shown in Figure 3.

In the diagrammatic view illustrated in Figure 13, the twin cylinders 126 of the inner dump box 86 are shown interconnected by suitable conduits 136 and 137. A fluid supply conduit 138 has one end in communication with the cross conduit 136 and its opposite end is shown connected to the high pressure side of a hydraulic pump 139, operatively connected to a shaft 141 which in turn is connected to the usual power takeofl' shaft of the truck engine 63, as will be understood by reference to Figure 13.

The cross conduit 137 between the cylinders 126, has one end of a conduit 142 connected thereto, the opposite end of which is in communication with a fluid supply tank 143 carrying an adequate supply of fluid for operating the plungers 129, when tilting the inner dump body 86 to its load dumping position. The suction side of the pump 139 has a conduit 144 connecting it with the fluid supply tank 143, whereby when the pump 139 is operated, fluid may be drawn from the supply tank 143 into the pump 139, which pumps fluid into the twin cylinders 126 and thereby projects the plungers 129 therefrom, whereby the inner dump body 86 may be tilted to a load dumping position, as shown in Figure 3. Suitable control means, not shown, are provided within the drivers cab for controlling the operation of the pump 139.

Operating means for truck body The means provided for tilting the usual truck body 9 to a load dumping position, is of conventional design, and comprises a cylinder 146 having a plunger 147 mounted for reciprocal movement therein. The rear end of the plunger 147 is connected by a pivot 148 to the bottom of the main truck body 9, as shown in Figure 3, and the front end of the cylinder 146 is mounted for pivotal movement about aligned trunnions 149, secured to upper frame members 151, shown in Figure 3.

Also secured to the front end of the cylinder 146 is a fluid circulating pump 152 which is incorporated in the construction of the front end of the pump and is driven from a shaft extension 153, having its front end connected to the shaft of the fluid motor 139 for supplying fluid to the cylinders 126 of the inner dump body 86. The fluid circulating means at the forward end of the cylinder 146 is well known, and constitutes no part of the present invention.

From the foregoing, it will be noted that the main dump body 9 and the inner dump body 86 are tiltable to load dumping positions by hydraulic means operated from the power takeoff shaft of the truck engine 63. Suitable control means, not shown, are provided whereby the fluid circulating pump 152 of the cylinder 146 is rendered inoperative, when the pump 139 is operated to supply fluid to the twin cylinders 126 to tilt the inner dump body 86 forwardly to discharge material onto the cross conveyor 65, as shown in Figure 3.

To adapt the sand spreading mechanism or attachment to trucks of varying sizes, particularly lengths, the front horizontal section 17 of the side conveyor 43 may be made longitudinally adjustable by constructing each side wall 161 and 162 thereof of two sections bolted together, as shown in Figure 14 and indicated in Figure 1, whereby the conveyor may readily be shortened or lengthened to adapt the apparatus to trucks of diflerent lengths.

To thus vary the length of the side conveyor 43, the foremost side wall portions 163 and 164 of the conveyor section 17 are adjustably secured to the side wall por tions 161 and 162, respectively, by bolts 165, as best stood by reference to Figure 3.

8 shown in Figure 14, the bolts 165 being received in aligned apertures 166 provided in the side wall portions 161, 162, 163 and 164.

If the supporting structure or side walls of the side conveyor 43 are varied in length, it will of course be necessary to substitute a conveyor belt 46 of a different length as the length of said belt must correspond to the efiective length of the side conveyor 43 for a given truck. A belt tensioning device, generally designated by the numeral 160, is provided at the rear end of the conveyor 43 for maintaining the belt 46 at the proper tension.

Operation The novel sand and material spreading mechanism herein disclosed readily lends itself for mounting upon a conventional dump truck, as hereinbefore stated, whereby such a truck may be utilized as a road sanding machine, and also whereby it may be utilized as a conventional dump truck when so desired. When the inner dump truck 86 is nested within the main truck body 9, as shown in Figure 1, and the trap door 117 is in its closed position, as shown in Figure 11, the entire apparatus may be utilized as a conventional dump truck for hauling sand, gravel or any other material. The main dump body 9 is provided at its rear end with the usual end gate 154, well known in apparatus of this general type. The inner dump body 86 is of such size that it readily nests within the main dump body 9, as clearly illustrated in Figures 6 and 11, whereby when in its normal horizontal position, the combined dump bodies function as a single unit for hauling material as will be understood,

When the apparatus is to be converted into a road sanding machine, the trap door 117 is swung to its open position, as shown in Figure 3, and the slide 122 is then moved rearwardly to partially close the top of the hopper of the cross conveyor 65. The inner dump body 86 may then be loaded as a conventional dump body, a portion of the material flowing through the opening provided between the rear edge of the slide 122 and the hinged member 116, depending from the front edge of the bottom 113 of the inner dump body, as will be noted by reference to Figure 3. The spreader and conveyors may then be started by manipulation of the control devices, not shown, provided for controlling the operation of the auxiliary engine 78, which drives the hydraulic motors 54, 89 and 71. See Figure 13. The operator may also manipulate the crank to move the slide 122 in a forward direction, to thereby regulate the flow of sand or gravel into the hopper 80 and onto the cross conveyor 65.

The material thus delivered onto the cross conveyor 65 is dumped onto the rear end of the side conveyor 43, which conveys the material to the forward end of the apparatus and delivers it into the chute 16, which directs it onto the upper surface of the rotary spreader 12. The

' fins or blades on the upper surface of the spreader then engage and outwardly distribute the material over the surface of the highway in a uniform layer. Variations in the application of the material to the road surface may be effected by adjustment of the deflector 39 and also by varying the speed of the spreader and conveyor belts 46 and 66.

From actual experience we have found that the high pressure pumps 74, 58, and 103 may be operated simultaneously whereby the spreader and conveyors 43 and 65 are operated simultaneously to convey material to the forward end of the truck to the spreader 12 which distributes the material over the surface of the highway. In some instances it may be deemed advisable to provide means for independently controlling the operations of the spreader and conveyors, and such controls may readily be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention.

The auxiliary engine 78 operates entirely independently of the truck engine 63 and provides the necessary power for operating the spreader and conveyors. The tilting of the inner dump body is accomplished by operation of the hydraulic pump 139 from the power takeoff shaft of the truck engine, and the tilting of the main truck body 9 is effected by the cylinder 146 and plunger 147, and the usual fluid circulating means 152 provided at the forward end of the cylinder 146.

Suitable openings are provided in the bottom wall of the main truck body 9 to provide clearance for the plungers 129 of the twin cylinders 126, as will be under- These openings however cause no leakage of material from the apparatus because when the inner dump body is in its normal horizontal position within the main dump body 9, the material to be transported cannot enter the space between the bottoms of the inner and main dump bodies, as will readily be understood by reference to Figure 11.

The fluid circulating means for the spreader and conveyors, best shown in Figures 4 and 13, provides a very compact unit which may be completely assembled independently of the rest of the apparatus for subsequent mounting thereon. The hydraulic drives for the various mechanisms of the apparatus are dustand gravel-proof and operate efiiciently under all operating conditions. They are quiet and positive in operation and function equally well in varying temperatures.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that we have accomplished at least the principal objects of our invention, and it will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments herein described may be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that the invention is capable of uses and has advantages not herein specifically described; hence it will be appreciated that the herein disclosed embodiments are illustrative only, and that our invention is not limited thereto.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a road sander comprising a conventional truck supporting frame having a body mounted thereon, a mechanism for spreading aggregate and other material over the surface of a roadway comprising a rotary distributor mounted forwardly of said truck for rotation about a substantially vertical axis, a cylindrical housing of substantially the same diameter as said rotary distributor located thereover, a chute having its upper end in connection with a longitudinal conveyor carried by the truck, and lower end terminating adjacent to the upper surface of said rotary distributor and directly thereover, said chute having means mounted therein for controlling the spreading of material from the distributor over the surface of the roadway, said control means comprising a sheet-like control element mounted within said chute and having its upper end pivotally supported therein, manually operable means for actuating said control element, said means being operable from the cab of said selfpropelled vehicle, first deflector means for preventing the spread of material from the rotary distributor against the front axle and wheels of said truck, second deflector means mounted for controlling the lateral spread of the material emanating from said distributor, a first hydraulic rotary motor operatively connected with said rotary distributor for the rotation thereof, first pump and supply means operatively connected with said hydraulic motor, reservoir means operatively connected to said pump and supply means, said longitudinal conveyor comprising an endless flexible belt operatively connected to a second fluid operated rotary motor, said second fluid operated rotary motor being connected with a second supply and pump means, said second supply and pump means operatively connected with said fluid reservoir, a cross conveyor comprising an endless conveyor belt, said cross conveyor being operatively connected to a third fluid operated rotary motor, said third rotary motor being operatively connected to a third supply and pump means, said third supply and pump means being operatively connected with said fluid reservoir, said cross conveyor being disposed above and transverse to said longitudinal conveyor means and adapted to deliver material from said body onto said longitudinal conveyor means, a hopper for receiving material from said body and directing it onto said transverse conveyor means, flexible sealing means provided for said first and second conveyor means for preventing the leakage of material therefrom, means whereby said cross conveyor means may be operated at a speed substantially reduced with regards to the speed of said first conveyor means, auxiliary engine means for driving said pump means as a unit, clutch means for disconnecting said auxiliary means from said pump means, an inner box mounted for forward tilting movement within said body having at least a portion of the forward end thereof open, said box being spaced away from the forward wall of said body, means whereby at least a portion of said open forward wall of said box may be closed, said means when open providing a guide means for deflecting the flow of material onto said cross conveyor means, a downwardly opening aperture in said body positioned over said transverse conveyor, means whereby material may be emitted from said body through said aperture onto said transverse conveyor means, means for closing said aperture when desired, means for controlling the amount of delivery of material onto said cross conveyor, hydraulically operated means for forwardly tilting said inner box, and said first, second, and third pump means being operable simultaneously by said engine means.

2. In a mechanism for spreading aggregate and other material over the surface of a roadway adapted to be installed upon a conventional motor truck, a body having bottom, end and side walls, a rotary distributor mounted forwardly of said truck, a longitudinal conveyor, a chute communicating said rotary distributor with said longitudinal conveyor, control means mounted in said chute for varying the spreading of material over the surface of the roadway, means for actuating said control means, deflector means for directing the spread of material from said rotary distributor, a cross-conveyor, independent means for operating said rotary distributor, the longitudinal conveyor, and the cross conveyor, said cross conveyor being disposed above and transverse to said longitudinal conveyor, said longitudinal conveyor being adapted to deliver material to said chute from the cross conveyor for delivery onto said rotary distributor, means for guiding material from the body of the truck onto said transverse conveyor, flexible sealing means for said longitudinal conveyor and said cross conveyor for preventing the leakage of material therefrom, means whereby said cross conveyor may be operated at a speed which is substantially lower than the speed of said longitudinal conveyor, an inner box mounted for forward tilting movement within said body and having at least a portion of its forward end open, said box being spaced away from the forward wall of said body, means whereby at least a portion of said open forward wall of said inner dump body may be closed, a downwardly opening aperture in said body positioned over said transverse conveyor, means whereby material may be emitted from said box through said aperture onto the transverse conveyor, and means for controlling the amount of delivery of material from said box onto said cross conveyor.

3. In a road sander comprising a conventional truck supporting frame having a body thereon, a mechanism for spreading aggregate and other material over the surface of a roadway comprising a rotary distributor mounted forwardly of said truck, means mounted between the cab of said truck and said dump body for the operation of said rotary distributor, a longitudinal conveyor for conveying material to said rotary distributor, sealing means provided for maintaining material on said longitudinal conveyor, a cross conveyor arranged to deliver material onto said longitudinal conveyor, an inner box mounted for forward tilting movement within said body having a portion of its forward end open, said inner box being spaced away from the forward wall of said body, a downwardly directed aperture in said body positioned over said cross conveyor, means for controlling the flow of material from said body through said aperture onto the cross conveyor, hydraulically operated means for forwardly tilting said inner dump box, said hydraulically operated means comprising a fluid pump operated from the power takeoff of said power propelled vehicle.

4. A material spreading apparatus comprising in comprising in combination a power propelled vehicle comprising a supporting frame, an engine, a power take-elf shaft and a body open at the top and closed on the two ends and sides and bottom thereof, a material spreader mounted forwardly of the vehicle and carried by the vehicle supporting frame, a material containing box nested within said body and comprising a bottom and end wall and two side walls and having the end opposite said end wall open, the terminal ends of said side walls of said box adjacent the open end thereof being spaced away from one of the end walls of said body so that said box may be tilted therewithin, conveying means for conducting material positioned beneath said open end of said box, and means for tilting said box within said body to discharge its contents onto said conveying means for delivery onto said spreader, and said body having an aperture disposed to discharge material onto said conveying means.

5. A material spreading apparatus comprising in combination a power propelled vehicle comprising a supporting frame, an engine, apower take-.ofi shaft nd a body open at the top and closed on the two ends and ides an bottom thereof, a material spreader mounted forwardly of the vehicle and carried by the vehicle supporting frame, a material containing box nested within said body and comprising a bottom, an .end wall and two side Walls and having an open end opposite said end wall of said box adjacent the open end thereof, the terminal ends of said side walls being spaced away from one of the end Walls of said body so that said box may be tilted therewithin, a trap door in the bottom of said body forwardly of the terminal ends of said side walls, means for retaining said trap door in open position, conveying means for conducting material through said spreader positioned beneath said trap door, and means for tilting said box in a forward irection to discharge its load through the open trap door onto the conveying means for subsequent delivery to the spreader.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further characterized by a hopper positioned beneath said aperture in said body and arranged to receive material ejected from said box and means operable to open or close the top of said hopper.

References Cited in the file of this patent Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Ash Nov. 14, 1922 Bangert Sept. 9, 1924 Hardenbergh June 17, 1930 Padgett Mar. 8, 1932 Thompson May 16, 1933 Young Aug. 29, 1933 Kutscha Oct. 3, 1933 Smith Aug 28, 1934 Mayfield June 20, 1939 Stewart Sept 23, 1941 Harvey Apr 21, 1942 Hopkins Jan. 30, 1945 Brumbaugh Apr. 24, 1945 Werts Jan. 29, 1946 Patterson Feb. 25, 1947 Cornwell May 27, 1947 Lapointe Nov. 16, 1948 Jackson Oct. 18, 1949 

